Native bi-directional communication for hardware management

Abstract

A communication system includes a storage operable to host an operating system and a management controller configured to directly communicate with the operating system. The management controller directly communicates with the operating system through a communication channel free of an intermediate agent. The management controller is operable to asynchronously send management information to the operating system over the communication channel. The management controller is also operable to asynchronously receive management information from the operating system over the communication channel.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A communication system, comprising:
 a storage device operable to host an operating system; and 
 a management controller configured to directly communicate with the operating system through a communication channel free of an intermediate agent; 
 wherein the management controller is operable to: 
 asynchronously send management information to the operating system over the communication channel; and 
 asynchronously receive management information from the operating system over the communication channel. 
 
     
     
       2. The communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the management controller is operable to collect hardware data and, upon receipt of data indicative of a hardware abnormality, send notice of the abnormality to the operating system over the communication channel without being prompted by the operating system or an agent executing on the operating system. 
     
     
       3. The communication system of  claim 1 , including a networking device coupled to the management controller and the storage, the networking device operable to route the management information between the management controller and the operating system on the communication channel. 
     
     
       4. The communication system of  claim 3 , wherein the communication over the communication channel conforms to the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) specification. 
     
     
       5. The communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the communication over the communication channel conforms to the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) specification. 
     
     
       6. The communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the communication over the communication channel conforms to the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) specification. 
     
     
       7. The communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the management controller is further operable to receive a periodic heartbeat directly from the operating system over the communication channel. 
     
     
       8. An information handling system (IHS), comprising:
 a chassis; 
 a storage housed in the chassis and operable to host an operating system; 
 a management controller housed in the chassis and coupled to the storage, the management controller configured to directly communicate with the operating system through a communication channel free of an intermediate agent; 
 wherein the management controller is operable to:
 asynchronously send management information to the operating system over the communication channel; and 
 asynchronously receive management information from the operating system over the communication channel. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The information handling system of  claim 8 , wherein the management controller is operable to collect hardware data and, upon collection of data indicative of a hardware abnormality, send notice of the abnormality to the operating system over the communication channel without being prompted by the operating system or an agent executing on the operating system. 
     
     
       10. The information handling system of  claim 8 , including a networking device housed in the chassis and coupled to the management controller and the storage, the networking device operable to route the management information between the management controller and the operating system over the communication channel. 
     
     
       11. The information handling system of  claim 10 , wherein the communication over the communication channel conforms to the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) specification. 
     
     
       12. The information handling system of  claim 8 , wherein communication over the communication channel conforms to the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) specification. 
     
     
       13. The information handling system of  claim 8 , wherein communication over the communication channel conforms to the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) specification. 
     
     
       14. The information handling system of  claim 8 , wherein the management controller is further operable to receive a periodic heartbeat directly from the operating system over the communication channel. 
     
     
       15. A method for managing an information handling system (IHS), the method comprising:
 asynchronously sending management information from a management controller directly to an operating system through a communication channel free of an intermediate agent; and 
 asynchronously receiving management information at the management controller directly from the operating system over the communication channel. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the asynchronously sending management information includes sending notice of a hardware abnormality directly to the operating system without being prompted by the operating system or an agent executing on the operating system. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the sending notice of a hardware abnormality includes sending a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) trap directly to the operating system. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the sending notice of a hardware abnormality includes sending a system control interrupt (SCI) directly to the operating system. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15 , including receiving at the management controller a periodic heartbeat directly from the operating system through the communication channel. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the asynchronously sending and asynchronously receiving conform to the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) specification.